Rumorpile: Another Day, Another Omega Platform Rumor

Its been a few months since we last heard anything about the rumored Omega RWD platform that could be underpinning future Cadillac flagships. Our last report in September said a sedan and hard top are in the works and will be appearing sometime in 2015.

A new report from Car and Driver says GM has a few Omega vehicles on the way, with the first one arriving sometime in 2015.

Omega will take hold of the larger RWD vehicles ranging from a midsize luxury sedan (CTS, 5-Series, E-Class) up to length of 207 inches (about the same length of an Audi A8L).

The first vehicle in question is the replacement for the still-need-be-launched Cadillac XTS. Car and Driver says the Omega-based replacement will arrive sometime in 2015. The vehicle will have GM's 3.6L DI V6 as a base, a twin-turbo version of the 3.6L, and V8 for an engine lineup. Also, a new eight-speed automatic and a new hybrid system are in the cards as well.

Going further down the rabbit hole, the long-rumored “flagship” Cadillac could eventually be spawned from the Omega platform; whether it takes the form of the Sixteen concept from 2003 or the Ciel concept from last year remains to be seen.

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I've always viewed this XTS as a transition vehicle, and the apparent three year lifespan planned for it confirms that.Though I do think the Epsilon XTS will do well, the world is ready for a rear-drive large Caddy.

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I think C&D might be a little off... Since the CTS is moving to Alpha it makes sense to have only one sedan on Omega, the flagship car (in SWB and LWB configurations). What would make sense (to me at least and though it would become much less of a cash cow for GM) would be for the Escalade to move to Omega... A 2-door would be dependent on how GM positions any Alpha-based coupes/convertibles.

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Yeah, CTS is going Alpha, but that doesn't mean that Buick couldn't get its own 5-series sized flagship on Omega.Wouldn't that create overlap? If anything a nice Omega-based Riviera could make sense. But, again, the risk of overlap is big in that option.

Buick would be softer luxury, Cadillac is sport lux

I think this would be bad for GM as the as the last thing they want is to have Buick ovelaping with Caddilac. Even if you say soft lux versus sport lux. No Buick needs to stay where it is as a Mid Lux builder.

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I expect several things on this platform. The Sedan is a lock. A Sport Coupe ala Bently like and A convertible 2-4 door?

The more I think they can keep Omega Cadillac the better. It would give Cadillac a more exclusive image they need. Also the engine program as in the ZR1 has shown GM can do limited run engines and still make money. While I do not even consider a V12 or V16 I do see where they could do a V8 in house now. Most MFG will be cutting the V12 and larger engines soon as Bently has already started to place a V8 in some of their cars and the others are looking to smaller engines and Turbochargers.

The more I think about it a SWB Chevy Zeta II and a LWB Zeta II could be in the cars as well as a Zeta II coupe for Buick after the Camaro moves to Alpha.

This line up would put space between the divisions and give Cadillac and Buick cars that are not the same and not also directly shared with Chevy.

3 seperate divisions with different versions of similar or different platforms for each. It sounds good to me. Also with the way GM build cars they could replace the Camaro line in Canada and no longer have to deal with the inport issues from OZ.

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This sounds to me like they plan to replace the XTS with a rear drive model, yet continue on with the 310 hp V6. And not really build an S-class competitor. This seems like a Hyundai Equus competitor with a weaker engine. It would be nice if they went with an S-class competitor and a big luxury coupe, but as Car and Driver pointed out, what engine does GM have for that sort of car? I do think they should keep Omega as Cadillac only, will be interesting to see what happens with it, but it looks like it will be a while before we find out.

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Did you read the part about the twin turbo V6 and also having the hybrid as well (just like the S-class)?

I read it all, but it sounds like they want to move the XTS to read drive, and it said the "flagship" still isn't approved. So it could be a while before a flagship car is done. The Ford Taurus has a turbo V6, doesn't make it a flagship sedan.

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The XTS will remain as the choice for fleet sales. The Omega will be much more $$$$. The XTS will remain the choice for fleet and livery sales and take the resale bullet to protect the ressale value of the others in the line up. Think of the XTS as the Cadillac Captiva. They will keep with public sales to those who want them but for the most the appeal will be to those who buy for vehicles. The XTS will do for Cadillac what the Town Car did for Lincoln and generate cash flow. The difference is Cadillac will have other models that matter.

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This sounds to me like they plan to replace the XTS with a rear drive model, yet continue on with the 310 hp V6. And not really build an S-class competitor. This seems like a Hyundai Equus competitor with a weaker engine. It would be nice if they went with an S-class competitor and a big luxury coupe, but as Car and Driver pointed out, what engine does GM have for that sort of car? I do think they should keep Omega as Cadillac only, will be interesting to see what happens with it, but it looks like it will be a while before we find out.

There is an S350 V6 that produces measly 272 hp. So yes this is an S class competitor. If you dream of Caddy being global then accept the fact that this Caddy will have smaller less powerful engine. BMW has 740i in USA that produces dinky 318 hp.

With your analogy, S350 is also a Bumdai competitor with a weaker engine.